On Nov 27, 7:28 am, Nigel wrote:
On Nov 27, 6:28 am, Mydnight wrote:

Other times I've seen freezers that weren't cold enough that caused
condensation to form inside and on the bags.

If the condensation was frozen within the bag then the tea was too
moist rather than the freezer not cold enough - if the condensation
was liquid then the freezer was above zero C - refrigerator not
freezer. If you can see through the bags then they are no good for
storing tea in a freezer - they will let in taints, let out aroma, and
cannot be properly sealed. Moisture will inevitably get through
polythene or nylon bags knotted or zip locked or through pinholes.

I guess the freezer would have to be really cold.

Yes, minus 18 deg C is necessary and no fluctuations

I bought a small freezer once for tea storage as well and no matter
what kind of

setting I used with it, I think the tea was always left with a freon-
freezer burned taste.

Could only be tainted if the bag was unsuitable and was not
hermetically sealed. Bags needs to be laminated polyfoil and sealed
with a suitable heat sealer. A vacuum is not strictly necessary - but
does indicate a good hermetic seal.

There seems to be some confusion in some other mails to this thread
about the difference between refrigerators (fridges) and freezers -
the former run above freezing at 2 to 5 deg C, and a decent domestic
freezer runs at minus 18 deg C. I would never put dry tea into a
refrigerator even if hermetically sealed (impossible to achieve
without a heat sealer and polyfoil pouches). The reduction in
deterioration at fridge temperature is so slight as to make the bother
of hermetically sealing a waste of time and expense. For long term
storage of tea hermetic sealing and freezing at minus 18 deg is
worthwhile if your tea is not as dry as it could be. I used to keep
multiple samples of control teas (commercial baseline quality at
around 6% moisture content) for experimental work in this way - taking
out individually packed samples at monthly intervals to compare with
teas aging under a range of climatic conditions.

Tea frozen and correctly kept under tfreezer conditions will have no
"freezer taint" or freezer burn - however, I have seen people waste
their time and their tea by putting it into the freezer in a ziplok
bag then taking it out at intervals to extract some tea under humid
kitchen conditions - and expecting it to store well, It will not -
remember that the acid test for hermetic sealing is that you could
store your package under water without qualms - anything less is just
not hermetic. And always let the sample reach room temperature before
opening and do not refreeze it.

However, if tea is at or below 3% moisture content (as it would be
straight from the factory dryer) hermetic sealing and keeping at room
temperature is fine - I have opened up tea after 12 years of storage
under these conditions and it was as fresh as the day I made it.
Redrying tea at intervals back to 3% moisture ("gapping") was always a
recognized way of extending its storage life under humid ambient
conditions.

Nigel at Teacraft
.

Not to minimize all that has been said here (because it is accurate
and informative) but it still all comes down to: Stick with the
conventional wisdom and tradition.

Sure it may vary slightly by region, but for the most part what has
worked for eons is still fine. But many folks like Ron Popeil wouldn't
be crazy rich if it weren't for millions of people who are all too
ready to be part of "The New Best Thing!" Set it and forget it. New
gadgets and toys are fun but imagine all the great tea you could buy
instead of a freezer and the necessary accouterments/electricity that
may or may not help at all and possibly be *more* harmful.

- Dominic